personal statement medical school

The Latest Technology in Medicine as a Topic for Your Personal Statement Medical School

Technology has its share of impact on society when it comes to medicine.  And while the practice of medicine has evolved so much due to high use of technology such as computers, there is still the issue of patient anxiety about the risks of medical intervention.  This will make a very good theme or topic for a student applying to medical school and writing his or her personal statement.

Focus on how to write about the latest technology in medicine, and this will be your main idea.  Persuade the admissions officers that you should be accepted in their school by having depth in your writing.  Make an outline of all the information you have gathered about the new technologies in medicine.  Your introductory paragraph should introduce the essay, give it focus, and introduce your essay by letting the readers know what the essay is about. Establish the essay’s context, supported by details to strengthen the main idea.  This will help you narrow down your topic and be really certain about focusing on your essay.

Focus on main topic

The biggest problem being faced by students when it comes to writing is how to put all the details gathered without deviating focus from the main topic.  So, it is better if you give a general introduction about the latest technologies in medicine.  For example, you could start by narrating the present role of technology in the medical field along with its many positive impacts on society today.  You can explain how people nowadays have a longer life span, how science has developed new ways of doing things, and how cures to diseases have been discovered.  All of these improvements in medicine we owe to technology.

After successfully introducing your main topic, you should then focus on only one technology or advancement to have depth in your essay.  The essay will revolve around that topic.  For example, you may choose to focus on the new painless needles pediatricians use to make vaccinations pain-free.  You can briefly mention how these needles are 500 times smaller then ordinary hypodermic needles, which are too small to irritate nerve endings.  What’s more, these new needles will consist of 400 embedded micro needles to gently puncture the skin.  Now with this new technology, society can have pain free shots. It is very clear and concise what this technology is, and what advantages it brings to patient care.

This is a very important ingredient of an effective writing.  Remember, it takes more than just putting all the details together. The flow of structure must be logical, wherein the bridging or linking of paragraphs must make sense to the readers. This might be addressed by using transitional words or phrases. You may also use comparison and contrast words to effect similarities and dissimilarities such as likewise, moreover, on the other hand, despite, in the same manner, in contrast, and several others.  You may also employ the use of a meaningful ordering by using ranking words such as first, second, lastly, finally, and others. Employing them will assure you of intellectual coherence not just on your part as a writer, but also on the part of the readers.

Before you end, make sure you redirect your readers to your original statement.  You may do this by linking the last paragraph with the first in order to leave a sense of completeness in your essay.  Use the art of closing without having to literally close at all!

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Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Located in Baltimore, Maryland, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine is one of the first medical schools to accept female students. Not only does it follow trends and developments in the field of medicine education, it also sets new standards by innovating modern hands-on teaching methods with its highly skilled faculty, who are experts in the field. With continued research, Hopkins’ faculty and personnel continue to develop government-funded programs for human development. For information on the school and its offered courses, just visit the school’s official website. Application information is available from its admissions page.

Harvard School of Public Health

The Harvard School of Public Health is among the most competitive medical schools in the country, initiating various campaigns for the improvement of public health, as well as taking credit of the discovery of various illnesses and medical breakthroughs. Among its most notable projects are implementation of night out “designated drivers”, and the discovery of HIV2 and of polio vaccine. Harvard School of Public Health is located in Boston, Massachusetts. To know more about the school, its offered programs, and application information, check out its website and web admissions page.

Duke University School of Medicine

Though a relatively young academic institution, Duke University School of Medicine is considered as among the best medical schools in the United States. Being credited for a number of relevant researches and breakthroughs in the field of medicine, Duke University School of Medicine was awarded with a grant by the US National Institutes of Health. The school takes pride in its highly competitive curriculum, state-of-the-art medical education facilities and distinguished faculty and alumni. The school’s official website contains more detailed information on the school’s history, course offerings, distinguished alumni, faculty, and curriculum, as well as admission requirements and procedures.

When aspiring medical practitioners get too engrossed into their medical textbooks and scientific concepts, they tend to forget that one of the most important qualities that every doctor must have is people skills. What does this mean? Being a doctor, you are not only expected to diagnose patients, perform operations or administer medication. The medical profession expects you not just to heal but to be well-rounded. To bring out the best in your job performance, you are expected to assume teaching and counseling responsibilities. Interpersonal skills or people skills are a must in the medical profession.

Better doctor-patient relationship

If you were a patient, how would you like your doctor to treat you? Most patients rely on their doctors to treat their medical problems. A patient would lean on them so doctors need to cultivate a patient-doctor relationship based on trust. This relations will ease the tension and allow the doctors to perform their duties more effectively. In general, patients prefer friendly and approachable doctors. Treatment is easier when a patient can explain his/her situation or forward questions to the doctor. To get a full picture of your patient’s concerns and feelings, you will need to be approachable and amicable enough to be entrusted with true feelings.

Healthier working environment

Just as keeping the doctor-patient relations is important, maintaining good working relationships with the other staff members of the hospital is necessary too. Bear in mind that medical practice and profession works best as a team – nurses administer IV fluids, hematologists perform blood tests, and radiologists operate X-ray machines. In general, only two kinds of doctors exist: the doctors we love and the doctors we love to hate. “Doctors we love to hate” designate most of their work and blame their mistakes to other people. On the other hand, “doctors we love” respect co-workers through polite requests and giving compliments for each job well done. Treat your colleagues as your equals because no matter what you do, the M.D. after your surname cannot aid you to accomplish work; you need your colleagues and team members to do your job better.

The real definition of a successful bypass operation or perfect surgical stitch suture is not sufficient to save a patient’s life. It actually starts after the conduct of critical medical procedure. Having established a reputable doctor-patient relationship can make you easily convince your patient to commit to a healthy lifestyle, and understand that the fastest way to recovery is your patient’s willingness to heal.

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The TV drama Grey’s Anatomy is one of the popular television shows in the US today, which focuses on surgery. Viewers who have a limited background in the medical profession will probably get confused when they watch the show because of the differing titles of the doctors. Why are Meredith and her friends called “residents,” while George remains an “intern”? Why does everyone call Dr. Webber “chief”? For the sake of the confused non-medical viewers, here is a glossary of common hospital staff terms.

Medical interns

Medicals interns are first-year residents who have recently graduated from medical school. Because they are still medical interns, they still have to gain hands-on medical experience; so they are allowed to scrub in for some minor surgical procedures.

Medical residents

Medical residents are the medical students who manage to pass their medical boards and intern exams. Further, medical residents are legally recognized doctors who practice medicine with the supervision of attending physicians. In addition to practicing medicine, medical residents also teach and supervise duties of medical interns.

Attending physicians

Attending physicians are doctors who have finished training for their medical specializations. They are the “doctors in charge” in their respective sub-departments. Attending physicians are fully responsible for the medical care of their patients as well as the clinical performance of their medical residents. Equally, attending physicians teach interns and train residents in teaching hospitals. These are done for the purpose of becoming better medical practitioners.

Chief attending

In every institution a boss is needed. In a hospital setting, the chief attending is the big boss. The chief attending is an attending physician who takes care of the overall organization of the whole hospital department. In the case of Seattle Grace Hospital surgical department, that role is given to Dr. Richard Webber.

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What qualities make doctors successful? Maybe medical doctors or even medical students themselves will have difficulty in answering when asked this question. Some may say their outstanding grades, others their excellent choice of a medical school and others their determination. These are all contributory factors toward being a successful doctor. Getting categorical answers entail additional reading and research; but if you are curious enough, here are some tips to start reading and help you become a great physician someday:

Successful doctors are excellent communicators

Active interaction with colleagues and other members of society is inevitable as well as important in medical practice. In a sample case: Dr. Cristina Yang of Grey’s Anatomy. Dr. Yang graduated with top honors from Stanford Medical School and received her PhD from Berkeley. She has excellent surgical skills and is like a walking medical textbook. Dr. Yang however is not at ease talking with her patients or able to handle well the delivery of terrible news. In this case, people skills are missing. In medical practice, a balanced medical aptitude and social skills is a must if you want to be a successful doctor. Patients are people and need special care during their unhealthy times; treating with sensitivity is necessary.

Successful doctors are keen observers

Doctors need to be observant during treatment of diseases and disorders. Some symptoms may be small or light but can be even more serious. Malaria for example starts with a tiny mosquito bite, and cancer begins with a small malignant tumor. Being keen on details is very important in medical practice as it will help you easily identify the cause of an illness of a patient or related problem. Having an eye for your patient’s situation will help you save lives. In medical practice, you have to stay alert and observant at all times before things get worse. Being vigilant helps you build a successful career in medicine.

Successful doctors are time management experts

Yes, time management is very essential to medical practice. Time management skill starts right when you enter medical school and not during medical residency only. Starting to practice time management skills during medical school does not only help you study well and get more sleep but also to build and excellent medical career. Getting well organized will help you avoid laziness and tardiness, your class schedules will be planned earlier and get you to bed on time as scheduled.

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The toughest thing to manage is being in two serious commitments at a time – marriage and medical school. These are considered tough as they both carry the same weight in needing 100% dedication and responsibility. What would you expect when you fall into a situation as this? Do you have coping mechanisms to perform both responsibilities at the same time?

Juggling spousal responsibilities and medical school work

Being a married woman and attending medical school is a very complicated situation to be in. Duties of being a wife at home and to your husband are expected of you while you are equally expected to do well in medical classes. This can really be difficult for you and would need to find some coping mechanism to reduce some of your menial load and get doing more significant responsibilities in medical school. If you can afford it get some household help. It is very helpful to plan ahead for these multi-tasks if you have had the chance as it will help you unload most of lighter responsibilities to get the chance to accomplish heavier ones.

Balancing marriage, medical school work, and parenting

Parenting is the most complicated duty to juggle with medical school. It takes a lot of energy and will power to be able to take care of your children, maintain your marriage and at the same time. You must find a way to learn how to turn your difficulties into an asset. Managing your time skillfully and having the discipline to stick to it is a powerful tool for you to succeed. Being able to identify coping mechanisms and finally making it happen will head you on to success. With your time off in medical school, spend quality time with your spouse and child. What matters most is you have time for your family in any way possible.

If you are still single, better to wait before getting married until you have graduated or during residency before having a family. As much as possible avoid things that will complicate your studies. A baby deserves more time for caring the same as starting a family thus it is always wise to plan out when to get into marriage when planning to get into medical school. This is a fair way to treat your family, your career and yourself. So control your time and do things one step at a time.

In case it cannot de avoided, plan your steps and manage your time with the discipline needed. Besides, you will need an inspiration and a warm and sweet affection from your supportive partner when coming home after a stressful day in medical school.

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Are you still undecided on what medical specialization to pursue? If so, it is wise to start checking your options now. To be able to select a medical specialization that fits your interest and enhances your skill, planning and assessing are necessary just like preparing your personal statement medical school. One basic thing is to check out how tight the competition is. You can find below a list of some of the most competitive medical specializations. Read on to help you decide the best choice.

Neurosurgery

Neurosurgery may appear easy but this medical specialization is actually one of the toughest fields in medical practice. Neurosurgery involves the treatment of the nervous system which is the person’s control unit. The risks are high in this field as a slight mistake may damage one part of the brain and can totally affect the whole body. A small mistake in neurosurgical operations can lead to coma, paralysis, brain damage, psychosis, or even death. Despite the many risks, medical practitioners take up neurosurgery as medical specialization.

Dermatology

Obsession to physical beauty makes dermatology as a medical specialization that is highly competitive. Even ordinary people endeavor to get the most pleasing physical beauty. More so in the movie industry where skin care services are highly in demand. Thus, despite dermatological services being expensive, dermatology remains very popular because people from the middle- to high-income level basically want to look attractive and physically beautiful. This medical practice however, is not limited to wart removal or skin whitening services. It includes the treatment of skin diseases like impetigo, acne, dermatitis, Hodgkin’s lymphoma, melanoma and eczema. Because of it being one of the most sought-after medical specializations today and the huge potential earnings, medical students go for it.

Even if the competition in neurosurgery and dermatology is tight, it is not a reason for leaving it out in your list. If you believe you are brave enough to insert an electrode into people’s brains or to remove tissue from people’s eyelids, then you are worth becoming a specialist. Remember that you will ultimately decide on your medical career and not others; if you have stated you will do anything to go through the challenges in medical school, then it’s time to prove it to yourself.

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Aside from the pressure and stress of medical school and residency, doctors confront another rigid challenge in their medical career – to select medical specializations. Listed below are some of the most popular medical specializations:

* Plastic surgery

Plastic surgery is one of the most popular medical specializations. Medical students need to understand however that it is the specialization that it is also one of the most difficult to excel in. This is because it involves enhancement of physical assets and reconstruction of physical deformities, which are complex medical procedures. Plastic surgery is a highly techical field and is always coupled with a lot of risks that can include paralysis and death.

In spite of the complexity and risks involved, the popularity of this medical specialization stems from the undeniable obsession of people to enhance their physical beauty. So, plastic surgeons will never run out of patients.

* Pediatrics

Pediatricians, aside from diagnosing signs and symptoms as well as checking possible infections, provide medical care to maintain the total health of children in all aspects. Treating children is not that simple especially if your patients cannot really say what and where it hurts. By the pediatrician’s experience, the pediatrician makes his or her diagnosis.

Aside from enjoying the treatment of children as patients, the popularity of this medical specialization is due to the fact that parents will definitely pay any amount for their children’s safety and health.

* Obstetrics and gynecology

This medical specialization is perhaps the most popular medical specialization among female doctors, but it is also open to male doctors. This medical specialization remains close to every female doctor’s heart due to its focus on parts of the anatomy that are found only in women. It deals with ensuring medical care for the reproductive health of pregnant including non-pregnant patients.

The basic fact that women get pregnant and babies are born every day assures the proliferation of medical practitioners on obstetrics and gynecology.

In the end, do not make the mistake of choosing a specialization because of its popularity or even based on the amount of salary involved. Choose a medical specialization that matches your skills, personality, and interests. If you’re not a “people person” and your dexterity is topnotch, you may want to be a surgeon.

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The learning process doesn’t stop with your graduation from medical school. As new breeds of disease evolve and technology advances, the learning process needs to continue. Thus, doctors, especially the newly graduates, need to learn more about professional medical practice. To respond to this situation, various medical experts began to set up teaching hospitals. The teaching hospitals are medical institutions that provide medical care to patients and also clinical training to interns. Read on to get an idea on best teaching hospitals in the USA that you could consider.

Johns Hopkins Hospital

Johns Hopkins Hospital gave birth to the development of popular medical specialties such as pediatrics, neurosurgery, endocrinology as well as urology. Significant discoveries and several medical breakthroughs have been made in Johns Hopkins Hospital. These include the identification of the three polio virus types, the discovery of restriction enzymes, and the operation of the first blue baby. Johns Hopkins Hospital strives to preserve and continue its legacy in the field of medicine and health care. It invests further in the proper training and education of its medical practitioners. Do you need proof its success? For eighteen years, John Hopkins Hospital was consecutively recognized as the best medical institution and teaching hospital in the USA.

Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center

Aside from getting recognition for its overall medical services and programs, Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center joins Johns Hopkins Hospital in the list of top medical institutions and best teaching hospitals in the USA. Its teaching hospital gained praises for outstanding medical specialties, low mortality data, great medical practitioners and advanced medical technology. Want to know the secret to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center’s success? Its success is due to provision of effective clinical education and training program for its interns as well as other medical residents.

Massachusetts General Hospital

The Massachusetts General Hospital, aside from being the oldest medical institutions in the USA, is also one of the best teaching hospitals. It has the biggest annual budget for hospital-based research program with US$400 million. The Massachusetts General Hospital medical staff are dedicated to finding new ways to improve medical clinical practice and develop medical innovation, through affiliation with Harvard Medical School.

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After four years from medical school, where to work is another significant decision to make. To join private hospitals or government hospitals is your decision and not any other person. There would be various factors that you need to consider, such as the facilities, the equipment, or salary. So after graduating you will have to think well and decide. Now is the time to to ask, “Where will I work – a private hospital or a government hospital?

Government vs. private hospitals

Government hospitals provide services to the public, thus they are also known as public hospitals. These are medical institutions owned by the government thus gettings its funds from the government. To pay the maintenance of medical facilities, services of medical practitioners and supply of medical equipment, government hospitals rely on the national government’s budget. Private hospitals on the other hand are medical institutions funded by private owners, hospital fees, and medical insurers.

Medical facilities and equipment

Government hospitals have very limited funds thus being the reason why medical equipment and facilities lag behind compared to private hospitals. Private hospitals can afford to upgrade medical equipment and improve their facilities so often due to medical service fees paid by the patients. If you prefer to work for hospitals having updated equipment and modern facilities, the private hospital is the place for you. Sufficient funds available also ensure you of the abundance of supplies, clean rooms, and efficient facilities.

Salaries and debts

Fund availability is ensured in private hospitals as compared to government hospitals. This runs through in terms of salary, for private hospitals give higher salaries than government hospitals. When you work in government hospitals, stress is coupled with lower compensation for the services rendered. The stress is brought about by the fact that patients flock to public hospitals due to lower hospital fees and medical rates than private hospitals. With the higher demand in this case, you will have no choice but to render medical service at the expense of your vacation, time for family or other personal activities.

On a practical side, however, to work in government hospitals is a good means to immediately pay off your debt when you availed of government scholarships for financial support during your medical school days. Even if the salary does not pay much, it helps pay off your student loan in terms of public service. In doing this, you can enjoy doing two things at a time – doing public service and paying off your debt. Who knows you have paid half your student loan while your classmates are figuring out or just starting to pay their extended student loan payment terms.

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